Advice on purchasing already imported UK Volvo.

Burning Eclipse

Hi All,

Have been searching and researching my options for the past couple of weeks as I need to buy a car - my first, as it happens. I currently drive my wife's 02 VW Golf (1.4 Baseline :pac:), but 1 car is no longer practical for us. Am looking for a family car (2 kids), nice features/comfortable in the cabin, and something that I like the look of. Most of my driving is urban, and not over a long distance, so diesel is not worth considering for me. Was looking at A4, Passat, S40/V50 etc.

Planning on spending in or around 5k and at the moment I'm finding it hard to see past this.

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/4310714

Does this ring any alarm bells for people? Checked on Tuesday and it's still for sale 1 month on. Is there anything I should be wary about when buying a UK car from someone here? How is ownership transferred on a UK car for example?

Would really appreciate any advice on this motor, or even my options in general?

mgbgt1978

It is illegal to sell an import unless you are a registered dealer. Even then the vrt must be paid and the car registered here before transfer of ownership .
If this seller is so c
onfident about the car let them vrt it before selling .

Burning Eclipse

mgbgt1978 wrote: »

It is illegal to sell an import unless you are a registered dealer. Even then the vrt must be paid and the car registered here before transfer of ownership .
If this seller is so c
onfident about the car let them vrt it before selling .

I had no idea this was the case, and that's why I posted here. Thanks for the heads up man! Based on the add, and chatting to the guy, he's a private seller.

mgbgt1978

In saying that, it does occur quite regularly.
However with the NCT crowd now looking after the VRTing the process is much stricter....i.e. they will ask you for a receipt from the UK seller and may even look for Ferry Tickets etc. as proof of when "you" actually brought in the car.
Some sellers will argue that if they register the car and then sell it to you that this will add an extra owner to the car's history. It will, but that's the proper way to do this.

Burning Eclipse

mgbgt1978 wrote: »

In saying that, it does occur quite regularly.
However with the NCT crowd now looking after the VRTing the process is much stricter....i.e. they will ask you for a receipt from the UK seller and may even look for Ferry Tickets etc. as proof of when "you" actually brought in the car.
Some sellers will argue that if they register the car and then sell it to you that this will add an extra owner to the car's history. It will, but that's the proper way to do this.

Hmmm, this has given me something to think about. Not sure I want to be bringing that hassle on myself, even if the car ticks all my boxes. Might ask him why he's unwilling to VRT the car, see how things progress from there?

Wicklowandy

What everyone says is true, if the car checks out, agree a price and before any money or paperwork changes hands accompany him to the nct and let him vrt it in front of you.

If your happy then, and he hasn't been hauled to jail, or collapsed with shock at how much nct want because the cars really been here for two years or whatever, do a deal outside with him.

If he wont vrt it with his own money, walk away. Theres always another car to buy, no matter how much you might like one.

michellie

Nct will accept any invoice, it can be handwritten on a cornflakes box and if it was purchased in Ireland you simply cannot provide shipping details. They won't not register it because you don't have shipping details.

But I'd have a look at the vrt calculator on revenue.ie if I were you, find out the co2 from the owner and you can get a rough price for vrt. I wouldn't believe any seller when they say "vrt will be roughly €1000"

sleepyholland

The VRT on that car is either 985 or 1055.
1055 if it is an SE model, 985 if it isn't.

JohnBoy26

michellie wrote: »

Nct will accept any invoice, it can be handwritten on a cornflakes box and if it was purchased in Ireland you simply cannot provide shipping details. They won't not register it because you don't have shipping details.

But I'd have a look at the vrt calculator on revenue.ie if I were you, find out the co2 from the owner and you can get a rough price for vrt. I wouldn't believe any seller when they say "vrt will be roughly €1000"

I know someone who recently vrt'd a car. They didn't have to show any proof of shipping/ferry ticket. I know of another person who also wasn't asked for it either. They do ask for it more often than not though.

veetwin

mgbgt1978 wrote: »

In saying that, it does occur quite regularly.
However with the NCT crowd now looking after the VRTing the process is much stricter....i.e. they will ask you for a receipt from the UK seller and may even look for Ferry Tickets etc. as proof of when "you" actually brought in the car.
Some sellers will argue that if they register the car and then sell it to you that this will add an extra owner to the car's history. It will, but that's the proper way to do this.

I'm not disputing what you say for a second but let's assume that the OP buys the car and rocks up to the VRT/NCT centre and looks the Vrt his car. He won't have a UK invoice or ferry tickets. Will they refuse to take his money?

michellie

No they won't, a handwritten invoice will do. It can be registered without shipping documents.

visual

Didnt know NCT also got the deal for VRT

How long ago did this happen ?

bazz26

visual wrote: »

Didnt know NCT also got the deal for VRT

How long ago did this happen ?

About 3 years.

carlowie

For what is it worth, I've imported my last two cars, one from Scotland and one from Northen Ireland both of which were registered before the NCT started looking after VRT.

The most recent car a Volvo s40 from the north, was purchased in the north with cash, from a private owner. so i wouldn't have had any receipt only the bottom part of the registration book from the previous owner. There was no issue registering this car.

The car i had previous to that was a car I owned when i lived in Scotland, so i didn't have to pay VRT on that car but in order to qualify for this VRT exemption. I had to prove i owned the car for a number of years before i imported it. I also hand to show evidence of when it was brought into the state (i.e. ferry tickets)

I would talk to the people who are doing the VRT and they will let you know the correct procedure for buying the car.

P.S I've just bought an 07 S40 SE 1.6 diesel. (It a lovely car)

corktina

carlowie wrote: »

F
The most recent car a Volvo s40 from the north, was purchased in the north with cash, from a private owner. so i wouldn't have had any receipt only the bottom part of the registration book from the previous owner. There was no issue registering this car.

)

most people on here will tell you that you have done that wrong....you should have been handed the main part of the V5C and the owner sent off the "export" section. (unless you used a NI address, but you don't say you did) . Just saying this so that noone reading this thinks that your way is the right way.

carlowie

corktina wrote: »

most people on here will tell you that you have done that wrong....you should have been handed the main part of the V5C and the owner sent off the "export" section. (unless you used a NI address, but you don't say you did) . Just saying this so that noone reading this thinks that your way is the right way.

Corktina you are correct, I stand corrected. sections 1 to 10 of the V5C are retained by the buyer. Section 11 (notification of permanent export) is returned to the DVLA by the seller.

blindside88

Spelling in the add is terrible and this automatically puts me off. Car looks very nice however, I would get a car check done on it (not just because its a uk car), as previously said accompany him to the nct centre and pay him once registered

L-M

blindside88 wrote: »

Spelling in the add is terrible and this automatically puts me off. Car looks very nice however, I would get a car check done on it (not just because its a uk car), as previously said accompany him to the nct centre and pay him once registered

I would imagine the sellers native tongue isn't English.

blindside88

Limerick man wrote: »

I would imagine the sellers native tongue isn't English.

I thought that but it just makes me wary in general, the ad reads very like the scam emails (I'm not suggesting its a scam). How does it compare to similar model Irish cars op?

L-M

blindside88 wrote: »

I thought that but it just makes me wary in general, the ad reads very like the scam emails (I'm not suggesting its a scam). How does it compare to similar model Irish cars op?

To me is reads like someone is trying hard to have a good add. Could be wrong.

comanche_cor

That ad has been up for 42day, in fact I thought that I had seen this ad in the last three months (have been half looking at V50s). I would thread carefully - not to say that there isn't a deal to be done here, but apart from the concerns about VRT etc I would also be getting car history checked out fully and the car inspected. Just my 2c..

mgbgt1978

corktina wrote: »

most people on here will tell you that you have done that wrong....you should have been handed the main part of the V5C and the owner sent off the "export" section. (unless you used a NI address, but you don't say you did) . Just saying this so that noone reading this thinks that your way is the right way.

Not quite Corkie....the "Export" section is only for use when the UK owner is moving abroad and taking (exporting) the car with him.
If you are buying a Uk car you should get the full V5 and when you register it here the Revenue are supposed to let the DVLA know that the car has been re-registered.